Hossa fires back at Vigneault

Marian Hossa will play tonight against San Jose after passing his final tests for a concussion on Friday morning.

The Blackhawks winger also had a reply for Canucks coach Alain Vigneault, who defended Jannik Hansen and questioned the one-game suspension his player received from the NHL for elbowing Hossa in the back of the head last Tuesday.

“Of course, their coach is going to protect his player, that’s how it is,” Hossa said. “Their coach wouldn’t like it if it happened to their player. He would have reacted differently. I think the guys should learn banging other players in the head, the PA (players association) and the NHL have tried to make big statements on that. Hopefully he’ll learn from that.”

Hossa said he did not suffer a concussion and that the test he passed on Friday took place on a computer.

“I feel good, otherwise if I had a little doubt I wouldn’t play and I wouldn’t practice,” Hossa said. “Everything is clear.”

Meanwhile, Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said Daniel Carcillo would return to the lineup after missing 15 games with a strained right knee.

Carcillo will skate on the fourth line with Marcus Kruger and Michal Frolik.

“Nice to see Danny back,” Quenneville said. “We can use him in a couple spots. We’ll probably start him with Krugs and Fro and go from there.”

Corey Crawford, who missed the last three games with a suspected concussion, will back up Ray Emery against the Sharks while Henrik Karlsson goes back to Rockford.

Defenseman Steve Montador took part in Friday’s morning skate for the first time this season. Montador remains in injured reserve with a concussion suffered last season.

“He’s going to have to go through practices here and get himself where he’s ready to play,” Quenneville said. “He’s cleared some hurdles where he can be inserted on some practices and he’ll tell us when he’s ready to go.”

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Between the Circles

Total Posts: 806

Tim Sassone, who was nominated for the Hockey Hall of Fame's Elmer Ferguson award in 2007, has covered the Blackhawks and the NHL since 1988 for the Daily Herald.

Tim grew up in the Chicago area and was a regular in the second balcony at the Chicago Stadium, which he still considers the greatest building for hockey.

He is a regular contributor to The Hockey News and still has a soft spot in his heart for former Hawks defenseman Dave Manson.